Watching University of Massachusetts wide receiver Andy Isabella isn’t easy. That’s mostly because of how fast he’s moving. The high school track star might just be the fastest player in the draft, but there’s more to him than a 40 time that might flirt with a combine record. Isabella isn’t the most highly-touted receiver in the 2019 draft class, but he might be the perfect fit in the 49ers’ receiving corps.
Isabella was a sensational pass catcher for the Minutemen, hauling in 167 passes for 2,718 yards and 23 touchdowns in his final 24 games. That productivity says there’s more than just a speed element to Isabella’s game.
He fits the mold of a slot receiver at first glance. The UMass website lists him at 5-9, 186 pounds. However, Pro Football Focus had some fascinating stats that show a much more versatile player than one who simply lines up in the slot.
PFF’s Austin Gayle broke down just how sensational Isabella was when lining up as an outside receiver:
Isolating his play to just the 242 routes Isabella ran at outside receiver this past season, he caught 68-of-97 targets for 1,366 yards (587 YAC), 32 first downs and 12 touchdowns en route to an FBS-high 93.7 receiving grade. No receiver graded out higher than Isabella on the outside, and no receiver averaged more yards per route run; his 5.64 yards per route run average also led the FBS, and the player in second, Missouri’s Emanuel Hall, averaged just 3.57 yards per route run. And his 143.6 passer rating when targeted at outside receiver ranked second.
Those aren’t cherrypicked stats. They’re strong indicators that Isabella has a multifaceted skill set that allowed him to produce at a high level in college. He didn’t do one thing really well – he did everything really well.
Speed certainly helps Isabella get open, but there’s a route-running element that allows him to get initial separation, then pull away with his elite speed. Those are the boxes Kyle Shanahan wants his receivers to check.
Isabella hasn’t gotten a ton of shine in a deep receiver class, but that’s likely to change after the combine. It wouldn’t be a surprise if San Francisco calls Isabella’s name on Day 2 of the draft if they do opt to add a receiver. He checks all the boxes Shanahan wants, and he may get undervalued by other teams who pigeonhole him as a slot receiver.
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